UK space expertise granted funding to help solve global challenges

The funding has come from the UK Space Agency’s International Partnership Programme (IPP), which is worth £152m over five years and partners UK space expertise with governments and organisation in developing and emerging economies. All IPP projects are match-funded by consortium members and international partners to ensure maximum value for money.

The successful projects are led by organisations from the UK’s growing space sector, including large companies such as Inmarsat and CGI, to start-ups such as Guildford-based Earth-i.

An existing project already delivering benefits includes a partnership between Inmarsat and the Philippine government to reduce the impact of natural disasters using satellite communications. It was called into action in December and January when tropical storms killed hundreds of people and displaced tens of thousands more to evacuation centres.

The project used British space technology and expertise to help relief workers get information in and out of the disaster zones which greatly increased the effectiveness of the response effort.